3 North is the only dedicated Neuroscience Acute Care unit in the Intermountain West. Patients cared for in 3 North are acutely ill adults and adolescents, and on rare occasions, pediatric patients, with neurosurgical, neurological, and general medical/surgical diagnosis.

Nursing & Unit Resources

3N Staffing Plan

• 3 North is staffed with Registered Nurses, Health Care Assistants and a Health Unit Coordinator.
• Staffing numbers will be flexed up or down according to current census and acuity. Per Diem, overtime, or resource staffing is called in for higher census and acuity. Staff float to other units in the case of low census in 3 North.
• Average daily census and average acuity would require basic staffing as follows:
• Staffing is evaluated on a shift by shift basis according to patient census and acuity and staffing is flexed up or down according to patient need.
• The charge nurse evaluates staffing, both current and for the next shift and communicates needs or excess staffing to the Staffing Coordinator. They will determine whether resource staff or "float" staff is available and communicates with the Charge Nurse, who will then determine whether staff need to be called in or called off.
• It is expected that all staff adhere to the schedule as posted, and assure appropriate communication when needing time off/sick calls, etc. per unit policy.

Approximately 40% neurosurgical, 40% neurology, 15% general medicine, and 5%other.

Nursing shifts are routinely 12 hour shifts on a rotating basis. Self scheduling within given parameters has been very successful on the unit.

Other services are based on 3N to meet patient needs.
They are:

• Physical, Speech, Occupational Therapy
• Pharmacy Services
• Case Management
• Nutrition Care
• Respiratory Therapy

Additional resources are contacted for other patient needs, such as Social Work, Radiology Services, Brain attack team, etc.